President says not holding hearings will taint high court with polarized politics

WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama said he is seeking a Supreme Court nominee who “would not even be questioned as qualified,” and warned that if Senate Republicans don’t hold hearings, it will taint the court with the polarized politics that have defined the White House and Congress.

“If and when that happens, our system is not going to work,” Mr. Obama said Thursday during a joint news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin...